Just wondering - has anyone besides me considered what the scriptures are saying about division and unity within the true Church?
Goodness Just-us-two,
There's a very clear picture about division in the scriptures, it's always tied to confusion and unbelief.
Here's a few examples:
John 7:40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
John 7:41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?
John 7:42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
John 7:43
So there was a division among the people because of him.
That's really interesting actually. Because they really didn't know the answer, there was a division among them.
Sometimes simply not knowing, maybe a bit of stubbornness, can cause division.
Here's another example: (There are many more.)
John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
John 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
John 10:19
There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
Then the accusations come:
John 10:20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
It's a good picture of how they and we reason sometimes. (Even about each other.)
John 10:21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
There's so much for all of us to learn. To become planted in a doctrine that may not be correct or fruitful would be such a waste. Seeking Jesus and the will of the Father with all our hearts, I believe that ties directly to loving Him.
The only way to know if any doctrine is true is to seek it out with Jesus. It's too important a matter to just accept conformed doctrines just for the sake of conformity? There's no gain at all in that.
When conversations like this come up, it seems it would make for a perfect opportunity to search out answers.
One more example:
John 9:15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
John 9:16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said,
How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
Do you think it comes down to stubbornness, or unbelief?